What a Year!

Posted December 31, 2013 by Marian

The holiday sales are over, and our doors are locked. The “Knock Loudly if You Would Like to Browse” sign is back up in the store. Now’s when we begin our period of hunkering down to create new work for spring. Hopefully our respective muses are ready to come out of hibernation.

We sure learned a lot this year. We learned that it’s always worthwhile to take a risk. We opened the store knowing that we couldn’t afford the rent and hoping we’d find a way to make it pay for itself—and it did!

Janelle taught us quite a bit about running a retail operation. For example, we learned (the hard way) that one should not print a special order, or ship anything, without first securing payment.

We’d rather keep a friend and lose a bit of money than the other way around, but hopefully we have finally learned to do things in the correct order.

The book is done! That’s some fantastic news. We are just waiting for final tweaks on the cover art and then I’ll ask the editor if I can begin to show you some of the artwork. I’m hoping we will also be able to take pre-orders for the first edition.

We’re excited to collaborate with poet Louis Jenkins on a new broadsheet project for the spring.

And, we’re going to be turning to our wonderful David Horn of ticktockdesign this year to redesign this website, update the shopping cart and make it a more robust and pleasing experience all around.

In all ways we are so grateful to all of you for your feedback, your love, your appreciation, your humor and your devotion. We would not be here without you. Happy New Year!

Wow! I really like your stuff! Your colors, your images and your words!
Today is a sad day. I thought we would have our first woman president. The concept of Trump leading anything or anyone is upsetting. I respect Hillary and think she would have been a good person for our country. Your artwork gave me some cheer! Must keep breathing!

Thank you so much Betsy. On this rather troubling day, to be reminded that we can do some good with our work, just by putting it out there, is exactly the kind of encouragement we needed. Much love to you. Let us all increase our light and keep breathing!